North Korea Launches Unha-3 Rocket, but Launch Likely Failure

If this North Korean Satellite was real, and if it was loaded onto the Unha-3 Launch Vehicle, it's likely not orbiting Earth right now (Picture Source: CNN)

This came via Yonhap about an hour ago:

SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) — North Korea defiantly fired off a long-range rocket Friday, officials said, in a move sure to spark strong international condemnations and escalate regional tensions.

The Unha-3 rocket took off from the Tongchang-ri launch site at 7:39 a.m., Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seook said, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are trying to confirm whether the launch was successful.

Incoming reports from South Korea, Japan, and the United States indicate that the rocket failed after launch, falling after a little over one minute.

North Korea has yet to report their launch results, but will no doubt have glowing news for its people, as the songs of Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung ring through the heavens, their newly launched satellite orbiting the earth, and bringing a new and prosperous era for the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (sarcasm).

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Craig was born & raised in the United States, having recently returned there after over five years in Asia. He is currently pursuing further education in the realms of East Asian Studies and Politics. Craig is an avid fan of the political, economic, and military machinations occurring throughout the Asian continent and how those turning gears affect the rest of the world. He's currently covering both North and South Korea for Asia Security Watch, enjoying shedding light on to this far-too-often ignored slice of Asia.
Craig Scanlan has 82 post(s) on Asia Security Watch